Psychrometer



J. KAHL PSYCHROMETER April I2, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5, 1945 9 INVENTOR JOSEPH KFIHL null ATTO R N EY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. KAHL PSYCHROMETER April 12, 1949.

Filed July 5, 1945 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PSYCHROMETER Joseph Kahl, New York, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1945, Serial No. 603,384

(Cl. I3-338) 11 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in psychrometers and it consists in the novel features which are hereinafter described.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a psychrometer having a horizontal air duct for the bulbs of the thermometer tubes to extend thereinto with a motor driven fan for circulating air through the duct and a means for employing the circulated air for cooling the motor and the electrical auxiliaries of the same, whereby to reduce or eliminate radiation of heat from the motor and its auxiliaries to the said thermometer bulbs.

Another object is to provide a housing, having therein openings, for enclosing the said air duct and the said fan, motor and its auxiliaries, whereby the circulated air after passing through the duct and fan casing is exhausted from the housing through the said openings therein, thereby cooling the said motor and auxiliaries.

A further object is to have the said air duct heat insulated on the outer surface thereof, whereby still further to reduce the transmission of heat therethrough by radiation from the said motor and auxiliaries.

A still other object is to provide the bulbs and lower ends of the thermometer tubes of the psychrometer with end tapered bushings encompassing the same, the tapered ends of the bushings to t bevelled seats in the top of the air duct; the taper serves to make the openings in the top of the air duct coaxial with the openings in the top plate of the housing.

Another object is to have the said bushings heat insulated on the inner surface thereof, whereby to reduce radiation of heat from and through the said bushings to the lower ends of the thermometer tubes.

A further object of my invention is to provide on the psychrometer a means for supporting the upper ends of the thermometer tubes and a means for adjusting the vertical position of the said tubes.

A still other object is to provide on said housing radiation shields to serve also as a standard for mounting the said supporting means thereon and means on said shields for excluding light from the sides of the thermometer tubes, whereby to make the markings on the said tubes more conspicuous.

Another object of my invention is to have the said air duct encompassed by another air duct parallel thereto and having the walls of the two ducts spaced from each other, air being circulated through both ducts, whereby still further to reduce or eliminate radiation of heat from the said motor and electrical auxiliaries to the bulbs of the thermometer tubes.

A further object is to provide suitable frames on said housing for holding the ends of each of said inner and outer ducts in position.

A still other object is to have the said outer air duct heat insulated on the exterior surface thereof, whereby to reduce the radiation from the said motor and auxiliaries which may pass therethrough.

Another object is to provide the said housing with a partition of heat insulating material and to locate the fan with the motor and its auxiliaries in the compartment on one side of the partition in said housing and the ducts in the compartment on the other side thereof in communication with the casing of the fan through an opening in the said partition, whereby still further to preventl radiation of heat from the motor and its auxiliaries to the bulbs of the thermometer tubes.

A further object is to place heat insulating material between the rear side of the ilanges of the frame which holds the outer end of the air duct and the part of the front of the housing to which the said frame is connected, whereby to prevent any conduction or radiation of heat from the housing to the-air duct through the said frame.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

I attain these objects by the psychrometer, two forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings or by any mechanical equivalents or obvious modications of the same.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a front elevation of one form of my improved psychrometer.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2-2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and also on the line 3-3 of Fig. 8,1ooking in the direction of the arrows, and drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 drawnto a larger scale than Fig. 3 and referring to the form of my psychrometer as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5-5-5 of Fig. 2, drawn to the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6` is a horizontal section on the line 6 8 of Fig. 8 referring to another form of my psy chrometer.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view in vertical section on the line 1'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 8-8-3-8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, showing some parts in elevation.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the form of my psychrometer which is shown ln Figs. 12, 4 and.y 5, I I designates a housing-for enclosing therein sundry parts of the psychrometer, which are hereinafter described, and is shown. as having thereon a cylindrical wall I2, a bottomY plate I3 and a top plate I4; the wall I2 is `shown:`

as having therein openings I5.

The plates I3 and I4 and wall I2 are secured together by means of relatively longxbolts 3 II- and nuts I'I. The bolts I6, by reason of their length, are capable of yielding laterally so that when a sufficient force is applied thereto they d deflect laterally and thereby the plate I4 may4 lne-.adjusted relativeto theremaining portion of` the housing.

Aduct l'which is shown in Fig. 5 as .rectangular in cross-section extends at the front end thereof through an opening in the wall, I2 and aiframe I9 which is secured to the wall I2 with afzstrip. of heat insulating material placed therebetween.v

The. duct IB'is shown in Fig. 5 as covered by a coat of heat insulating material 2i and is shown ini'Fig; 2 vas having in'- the top side thereof two bevelledv openings 22 vior bushings 49 to rest thereonand for the bulbs 23 at the lower ends of thewthe'rmometer tubes 24 to pass therethrough u a'ndfthrough the bushings 49 which are hereinait'er more fully described.

The vrear end of the duct I8 extends into a fan casing25 with which it communicates; the casing-25 encloses afan 26 and discharges into the housing II.

The fan 2S is connected by means of a'shaft 2I` to-an electric motor 28 which is diagrammatically shown `in Fig. 2.

The motor 28 is preferably of the'D. C. variety, andith'e current may be supplied to it either by batteries which are not shown in the drawings or from a transformer 29 and a stack of rectiiier plates 3`after anv A.' C.' current is taken from a power line at a higher voltage and reducedl by the -transfo'rmer v2'9"to a required lower voltage and changed by the rectifier plates 39 to a D.V C; current.

Sundry 'electrical switches and 'conduits which maybe employed are omitted from the drawings.-

Air is drawn-by the fan 26r'om the atmosphere at the front of the housing II through the duct IBland fanicasing .25 and passed into the interior of the housing I I where it contacts with the motor 23,?.th'etransfo'rmer :29, rectifier plates 39 and the sundry other electrical auxiliaries which are not shownyandis then'exhausted through the openu ings! 5 inthe :wall I 2 into theA atmosphere outside orf-the wall. J210i-the housing I I'.

The motor and. electrical auxiliaries including the transformer and rectifier discs are thereby being:r cooled, and kept from` being overheated,v thereby reducing'or .eliminating radiationV of heat from the said motor and auxiliaries to theb1lbsi12'3.-

One-'of the'bulbs 23 is theldry vbulb'and the other is the wet bulb of the psychrometer; a bale plate orpartition 3l is'sh'own as placed in the duct| IB-'fto-separatefthe air around each of the said bulbs.

The wicking which is employed to keep the Wet bulb moist is omitted in the drawings.

A pair of radiation shields 32 are shown as mounted on the top plate I4 of the housing II and secured thereto by means of a curved strip 33-33a which is angular in cross-section and has its horizontal flange 33 secured to the plate I4 by means of bolts 34 and its vertical flange 33a to the lower end of each of the.shields.32 byI means ofrivets 35.3

The shields 32 have therein openings 35 for the admission of light therethrough, and serve as a standard for supporting thereon the upper ends 371 ofthe thermometer tubes 24 by means of a mushroom shaped top 38 on each of said ends 31 whichv is supported by an exteriorly threaded bushing-39w-hich is shown in engagement with an interiorly threaded opening 4I) in the horizontal flange 4I of a curved strip 42 which is similar to the strip 33 and positioned symmetrically tl'iereto Themushroom 38 of -each tube 24 rests on the upper end of each bushing 39. The threadl in the opening 4I? maybe omitted ii desired.

The vertical flange 43 of the strip 42 is secured tofI the upper vend lof each ofthe shields 32.

Each of the bushings 39^extendsl above theVv flange 4i land the thread thereon is in engage-v ment-with an interiorly'threaded cap 44, which has its lower end resting -on theflange 4I of the strip 42; The upper end o f the cap 44 may be disposed tccontact with the'upper ange 45 of a Z-shaped member 46, the lower ange 4`I ofwhich is shown as secured to the flange 4IA of the stripy 42 by' means of a screw-48. Each of the caps 44 is-thereby adapted tof'act as a feed nut for the bushing 39 with the tubeI 24 which is supportedthereby when the thread is omitted in the'openg in'g149 of thei'lange 4I.

When the thread is retained in the openings 4U, the bushingsr'39 may be rotated by means of a suitable wrench toy raisevor lower the tubes 24;l

the rcaps 44 may theny rotate with the bushings 39 and4 will serve only as covers for the upper ends of'thetubes 24 with' the bushings 39.

One of the Z members 464s omitted in Fig. l offthe drawings, for the sake of clearness, and a clearance is shown in Fig. 4 between the top of the-cap44 and the underside of 'the flange 45 for the'same reason;

Turning the cap- 44 '-in' one direction will raise the bushing 39 and'turning the cap 44 in the opposite direction will lower thesame without turning it in the opening49 of the flange 4I when the thread is omitted therein.

Means may be provided .to keep `the bushing 39 from rotating when the cap.44'is. turned for raising or lowering said bushing..

The bulbs 23 at the lowerends of the tubes 24 pass through bushings 49 which are heatinsulated interiorly as at 59 in Fig. 4 and threaded exteriorlyas at 5I' in Fig. ,4 in engagement with 33-33a- The bushings 49 serve to prevent lea-kage of air into the housing ,II .andy duct I8.

The upper ends 52 of the bushing 49 may be prismatictofacilitate turning of the same.

The lower ends 53 of the bushings 49. are shown as tapered, to fit thebevelledseats of the open-I ings 22 in the top of the duct I8.

The bushingsAB are shown in. Figs. 4 and 5 as passing through openings 54 inthe plate I4 and; contacting the said seats 22;

The taper at the ends ofthe bushings 49v serves tov bring the. openings `in. the...plate.,| 4 into align ment with'the openings'22'in the duct I8; they ytomaia :also serve as valves for closing the said openings 22.

The bolts 34 which connect the ange 33 to the plate I4 iit loosely in the bolt holes of said plate to permit the alignment of the bushings 49 and the openings Y54 in the plate I4 with the openings in the flange 33, and the bolt holes in the plate I4 for the bolts I5 permit the alignment of the bushings 49 with the said openings 22 by means of the said tapered ends 53.

The radiation shields 32 have at their front 'ends curved screens 55 one on the outer side of` each of said tubes 24 for excluding the light from these directions, whereby to make the markings on the thermometer tubes more conspicuous.

The shields 32 also have at their rear ends stiffening ribs 56 which .are integral with said -shields 32.

A loop-shaped hanger 51 is shown in Fig. 1 as pivotally connected at its inwardly extending horizontal ends to lugs 58 on the flanges 4I of the strip 42.

The hanger 51 terminates at the upper end thereof in a hook 59 for suspending the psychrometer thereby.

In the modification of my psychrometer which is shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 two compartments 6B and 6I of the housing are employed; each of these is semicylindrical in outline; the walls 62 and 63 respectively of the compartments 60 and 5I are joined to each other by means of anges 64 thereon which extend inwardly, and suitable fastenings which are not shown.

A wall or partition 65 of heat insulating material is placed between the flanges 54 and extends from the joint top plate I4 to the joint bottom plate I3 of the compartments 6U and 6I bolts I6 are employed to. hold the plates I3 and I4 together against the upper and lower edges of the Walls 62 and 53.

A fan casing 66 is located in the compartment BIJ and part of the wall 6'5 is employed as one of its sides; the casing B6 discharges into the compartment 50 air which is drawn into it by means of a fan 26 on a shaft 21 which is driven by a motor 28; the shaft 21 is shown as supported at the outer end thereof by an outboard bearing B1.

Atmospheric air is drawn into the casing 6B through a composite duct I8-68 which consists of an inner duct I8 and an outer duct 68 encompassing the same; frames 69-12 and 10-14 are employed to support the ends of the ducts I8 and 68.

The duct 68 has thereon a covering 1I of heat insulating material.

Curved flanges 12 on the frame 69-12 serve to connect the same to the front of the wall 63 with a layer of heat insulating material 13 therebetween.

Flanges 14 on the frame 10-14 serve to connect the same to the partition 65.

Each of the frames 69-12 and 10-14 has thereon an inner rectangular hub for receiving therein the ends of the duct I8; the hubs 15 are joined to the frames 69-12 and 10-14 by means of bridge bars 11 which are integral with the said hubs 15 and with the frame 69-12 and 1li-14. Air spaces or passages 16 extend between the duct I8 in the hubs 15 and the duct B8 which is supported at its ends in the hub 69 of the frame 69-12 and the hub 10 of the frame 1li- 14.

Air which is discharged from the fan casing 66 escapes from the housing 50 through openings I5, thereby Ventilating the motor 28, the transformer 29 and the rectiers 30 with their auxiliaries, whereby radiation of heat from these to the bulbs 23 is reduced or eliminated.

The other parts of the psychrometer in the herein described second modification are identical with or similar to the corresponding parts of the first modification above described and are similarly numbered or omitted in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9.

However, the bushings 19 in Figs. 8 and 9 are longer than the bushings 49 in Figs. 4 and 5, and they pass through openings 18 in the duct 68 in addition to the openings 54 in the plate I4.

Variations are possible and parts of my invention may be used without other parts.

I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details as shown in the drawings.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A psychrometer comprising a pair of thermometer tubes, an air duct into which the bulbs of said tubes extend, another air duct encompassing the rst mentioned air duct and having therein openings for the ends of said tubes to extend therethrough, the walls of the two ducts being spaced from each other, each duct being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof for the admission of air therethrough, a fan for circulating air through the ducts, a motor for driving the fan, a housing, having therein openings in registration with the openings in the outer duct, for the ends of said tubes to `extend therethrough, encompassing the ducts and enclosing the motor with the fan, which is disposed to exhaust the air from the other end of each of said ducts into the housing, the end of each duct open to the atmosphere extending to an opening in the wall of said housing and the latter being provided with an egress for the exhaust air to the atmosphere.

2. A psychrometer comprising a pair of thermometer tubes, an air duct into which the bulbs of the thermometer tubes extend, the duct being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof for the admission of air therethrough, a fan for circulating air through the duct, a motor for driving the fan, a housing having therein openings for the ends of said tubes to extend therethrough, encompassing the duct and enclosing the motor with the fan, which is disposed to exhaust the air from the other end of the duct into the housing, the end of the duct open to the atmosphere extending to an opening in the wall of said housing and the latter being provided with an egress for air to the atmosphere and a partition of insulating material in said housing extending from side I to side and from top to bottom of the housing,

the said duct being located on one side of the partition and the motor being located on the other side thereof, the said partition having therein an opening for the said other end of the duct to communicate with the housing therethrough, whereby to prevent radiation of heat from the motor and its auxiliaries to the bulbs of the thermometers.

y 39A psychrometer comprising a pair of thermometer tubes, an air duct into which the bulbs of said tubes extend, the duct being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof for the admission of air therethrough, a fan for circulating air through the duct, a motor for driving the fan, a housing, havingtherein openings for the ends of said tubes to extend therethrough, encompassing the duct and enclosing the motor with the fan, which is disposed to exhaust the air from the other end of the duct into the housing, and the latter being provided withan egress for the exhaust lair'rtouthe atmosphere; azangedzframe, for holding one afendiiof 'theeain duct .'in'lposition, having its flanges 'secured to-thezwalloftm housinge at .zan' opening;inisaidf .wall, ,which vis in line Withzsaid.sduct,i and la gasket of insulating materiali' placed` between saidnflanges, andzithe contiguous rpartof the Wal1=of"housing,i whereby to prevent'conducti'orrand radiation bf heat fromV the wallfoffthefhousing to thefair' duct through the sairtrrame;y

4. A psychrometer 4comprisingfa pair oftherniometermtubes; an ainductinto Ywhich the Ybulbs of the thermometer tubes: extendsaid kduct being opennto vthefratmosphere 'zat one Vend thereof for the admission of airth'erethrough, afan for .circulating air throughv the duct, a'motorfor driving the fan, a transformer and a rectifier for-said motorrafmeans :for encompassing the said duct andffor enclosing;theifsaidfimotor with said fan, saidutransfrmer andsaid rectier, said encomf passing and enclosing means having therein openngsvdor the ends Vofi said ltubes to extend therethrough, said farrbeing disposed, to exhaust the airfromsthe otherend of saidrduct'into the eniclsingmeans;thefend ofathe--duct open to the atmosphere extendingito an'opening in the wall ofthe said enclosingmeans fand the latter being provided withiatrestrictedegress for the exhaust airito the atmospherathereby diffusing the air in the `enclosing means, .thereby cooling the motor, theftransformer and the rectifier and thereby re'- ducingafthe-radiation of heat-from these to Athe said tubes:l

5; Aepsychrometer; composing ay pair of ver-f ticarlyf-disposedfthermometerxtubes, a horizontal ainductiintowhich the bulbs'of the thermometer tubesfextend; the'saidrair duct being open to the atmosphere at one end thereof for thexadmission ofi air; therethrough; a fanfor circulating air through; the duct', at motor` driving the fan, a housing, havingtherein openings for the ends of saidtubes pto `extend-therethrough, encompassing said ductand enclosing the motor with the fan, whichzisgdisposedzttof exhaust'the air from the other --endfofi the4 duct intothe housing, the endof the ductzopen to 'the :atmosphere extending tof an opening in the walloffsaid housing and the latter b'eing provided'with'an egress for the Vexhaust air toi ztheiatmosphere;radiation shields on the hous.-` ing, to serve also as standards for supporting thereon the upper ends of the' thermometer tubes, and'meansonrsaid shields for raising and lowerfing said tubes, thereby varyingand adjusting the verticall position ofxthebulbs at. the lower ends of saidtubes.y

6. A psychrometer lcomprising a pairofver-V ti'oal'ly disposed thermometer tubes, a horizontal air'duct into .'Which the bulbs of the thermometer tubes extend, the said air duct being open to the atmosphere-at one end thereof 'for the ladmission oiairstherethrough;l afan for.l circulating air throughthe ducty a'motor for drivingthe fan; a housing, having therein openings forfthefends rof said` tubes :toA extend,therethrough;- encompassing thef duct; andx zenclosing thezmotorr with ,the :fan: which iszdisposed Yto exhaust'the air fromrthe other. .fen-d oi-said duct :into `thersaid housing, the end of, the duct open to the atmosphere extending toranzopeningzin thev wallof thersaid housingfand the'zlatter vbeingi provided 4with van egress ifor'the exhaust airto'theatmosphere, radiation shields orn'theflhousing for-said tubes, toA serve also for supporting` the',1 upper endsV ofthe. tubes, and screens ontheforward ends oitheishields integral therewith; for. ,excluding;1ight afronrrtheesidesfof 8 the .1' thermometer? tubes,f.v whereby yto make ethz markings on said tubes and the mercurycolunm contain'edtherein more lconspicuous.

'7. A psychrometer'comprising ai pair'of there mometerztubes, an airduct yinto which the bulbs of ithefthermometer 'tubes extend; the-said duct being-,open to :the atmosphere at one endfthereof for'thefadmissionziof air therethrough, afanifr circulating. air through vthe duct,y a: motor "for driving the fan, ai-housing, having'therein'opens ings for-.the ends of said tubes to .extend therethroughy encompassingthe duct 'and' enclosing the motor with the/fan; which is vdisposed to iex'fhaust the air from thefother end of the duetto the said,housinggthefend of the duct open toy the atmosphere :extending-to an .opening in the Wall oit-the saidthousing yand thelatter being'providd with a restricted egress for the exhaust air'tthe atmosphere, thereby diffusing the exhaust air. in the housing and thereby eiectively' coolingzthe motor `and-'reducii'igthe radiation of heat from the same to the bulbs of the thermometertubes.

8. Afpsychrometerfcomprising a. pair oftherinometer tubes; .an air. duct intowhichtthev bulbs of the thermometer tubes extend', said 'ductbeing openrtof theatm'ospherev at one end thereof; for the admission of air therethrough, a fanfor circulatingairithrough the-duct, a motor for driving theafanf, a-housing, .havingztherein openingszfr the ends 5 of, said-,tubes to extend therethrough', encompassing the-said'duct and. enclosingzth'e said motor'withtthewfan, which is disposed to exhaust the air from theeotherzrendrof"the duct into vthe vhousinggtheendof thefduct open to .the atmosphere extending; to an Vvopening `in the Wall ot :the 'saidfhousingfand the latter .being-'provided with relatively small openings'for dischargingthe exhaust air therethrough to the atmosphere, thereby 4cooling the motor; and'thereby reducing the radiation of heat to said bulbs..

9;' A' psychrometer' comprising a pair of "thermometer tubes, a. horizontal 'air duct into which the-:bulbs ofthe-said tubes extend, the said air ductbeing openztotheeatrnosphere at oneend thereof Vfor'the vadmission of "air therethrough, a f an". -f or circulating airi through'fthe duct,= a motor for "driving t thek fan, a: housing," vhaving therein openings:- forgth'e Yends `Aof said tubes' to extend therethrough, encompassingsthe said duct and enclosing: the-:motor 'with Ythe fan, which is dish. posedto-exhaust the air-'from` the other'endA of thefduct into-.the-housing, the end lof the vduct open to the atmosphere extending to an opening inthe-wall ofthe housinggand the latter being provided With an egress for thefexhaust'air to theatmosphere, the housing including'a topfplate secured by means of long bolts which'are adapted to be yieldable laterally, saidi top. plate being thereby laterally adjustable, said ducthaving therein openings for the lower'ends of the thermometer tubes to'v extend therethrough, bushings for" closingthe openings encompassingthe lower ends. ofthe-tubes,V said Vtop plate vhaving therein openings for the bushingszto pass therethrough; the :openings -irr saididucts being provided with bevelled seats-andfsaidbushings having tapered ends'torlt said seats, `,whereby to bring said seats and said `ends into alignmentwitheach other and thereby 'to V.adjust the. lateral positionv of the top plate .with relationrto that. of the duct in a :way to makei the openings finvthe ftop' 'plate coaxial with theopenings'inther-duct:,

10.-The.Y psychronreter: describedY in` claim, 9; saidzxbushings beingxheat insulated` ori/.the inner surfaces.fthereof,V wherebyfto reducefradiationrof heat from the bushings to the thermometer tubes.

11. The psychrometer described in claim 1, a partition of insulating material in said housing extending from side to side and from top to botten of the housing, the said ducts being located on one side of the partition and the motor being located on the other side thereof, the said partition having therein an opening for the said other ends of the ducts to communicate with the housing therethrough, a pair of frames for spacing the walls of the ducts from each other and for holding the ends of the ducts in position, each frame having thereon a hub for the end of each of said duets, said hubs on each frame being conneeted to each other by suitable bridge bars, one of said frames being connected to the said housing and the other frame being connected to the said partition.

JOSEPH KAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent: 

